Hallival and Barkeval

Summary

These two most northerly summits in the Rum Cuillin are the closest to Kinloch and give a magnificent hillwalk. The terrain is steep and rocky on Hallival especially, but these two hills still give much easier going than the main summits if the full round of the Rum Cuillin is too difficult. They give astonishing views of mountain and sea.

Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Rough and rocky peaks with some easy scrambling.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Getting there

Start

Kinloch ferry jetty, Isle of Rum.

Public Transport

Ferry to Rum.

Start Grid Ref

NM410990

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 13.5km / 8.5 miles
Time (summer conditions): 5 - 7 hours
Ascent: 884m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

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Explorer 397 - Rum, Eigg, Muck

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

Beginning from the Calmac ferry pier, follow the landrover track which curves round the coastline of Loch Scresort. It passes the primary school and later forks; take the right hand branch. This leads down through trees to rejoin the coast at the old pier; keep left here, passing the campsite and island hostel. At the next junction keep ahead on the track signed for the castle. This soon reaches Kinloch Castle - built in sandstone shipped in from Arran and appearing utterly out of place on such a remote island. Rum was once the private domain of the Bullough family who bought the island in 1879 as a private shooting estate. Turn left onto a track immediately before the castle, then go through a gate on the left to pick up a marked path through the woods beside the burn (Coire Dubh path, marked with red plant symbol).

Stage 2

The path passes a small wooden shed and then a hydro building. When it meets a wider path / track, turn left along it. This soon passes a National Nature Reserve marker.

Stage 3

A well constructed path now continues through now sparser, more open woodland, generally keeping close by the Allt Slugan a' Choilich - the burn coming down from Coire Dubh. Height is gained gradually, and the made-up path ends at a small dam on the burn at around 200m. Continue on a rougher path that follows the burn and then swings right to pass between two tall gateposts.

Stage 4

The path returns to the burn, keeping high above where it flows through a steep-sided box canyon. Continue until you reach a small old stone dam - now washed out. Use this to cross the burn, then head up grassy ground to pick up the next clear section of path that climbing southeast towards Cnapan Breaca.

Stage 5

Once flatter ground is reached head up the open slope to the SSW towards the main ridge; any rocks are easily avoided. Once on the broad ridge there's a great sudden view of the main peaks of the Rum Cuillin - nearby Hallival, looking steep and rocky, adjacent to the highest mountain on the island, the formidable Askival. More distant is Ainshval, and Trallval to the right. Head towards Hallivall, initially along a broad ridge.

Stage 6

There are several rocky bands to negotiate which appear tricky from below, but all are fairly easily avoided by keeping to the left side of the ridge to find gullys or chimneys leading up through them. The ground is covered with tiny burrows - the breeding grounds for Manx Shearwater - amazingly a third of the world's population of these seabirds nest on the Rum Cuillin every summer. You may hear their eerie call from underground; Norse settlers thought it was the noise of trolls, hence the name of one of the other summits on the ridge, Trollaval. As the small summit is reached there's a sudden superb view down to the neighbouring islands of Eigg and Muck.

Stage 7

Most impressive, however, is the view of the ridge continuing towards Askival and the rest of the Rum Cuillin. The ridge leading this way soon leads to tricky scrambling, but our Hallival and Barkeval route simply retraces steps back down the northwest ridge the same way you came. Continue down to the Bealach Bairc-mheall, and then begin the straightforward ascent to Barkeval.

Stage 8

There's a fine cairn at 575m, then a massive rocky outcrop at 590m, but the true summit of Barkeval is a short distance beyond both at a cairn at 591m at the far end of the ridge. From here there's a great view down to Harris Bay and its mausoleum as well as a fine perspective of all Rum's hills.

Stage 9

Return to the Bealach Bairc-mheall. The descent from here into Coire Dubh is steep, but there is a trace of a path from the lowest point, keeping just to the right of a tiny burn. This path is boggy in places; continue down to rejoin the outward route at the remains of the old stone dam in Coire Dubh. From here retrace your steps to follow the outward route all the way back to Kinloch.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree Hotels

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree B&B

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree cottages

Small Isles, Coll & Tiree hostels

Glamping and Camping

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